Bhotekoshi flood issue raised in LDC ministerial-level meeting

Kathmandu: Minister for Agriculture, Forest and Environment, Geeta Chaudhary, has raised the devastating flood occurred in the Bhotekoshi-Trishuli area as a major agenda in international forum.

The ministry has stated that she raised the issue today at the ministerial meeting of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) held in Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Minister Chaudhary held various high-level bilateral and multilateral talks and started strong lobbying with the international community for Nepal’s disaster management, mountain issues, and climate finance.

On this occasion, important bilateral talks were held with the Australian delegation, the co-hosts of the upcoming COP-31. Minister Chaudhary, who led the Nepali delegation, was accompanied by Australia’s Head of the COP-31 Presidency of Negotiations Branch, Ingrid Lundberg, and Head of Adaptation and Loss and Damage, Tessa Kelly.

During the bilateral talks, Minister Chaudhary, on behalf of the Government of Nepal, extended gratefulness to the Australian government and expressed sorrow over the missing of some Australian citizens in the disaster.

On the occasion, she informed that the Nepal government is fully engaged in search and rescue operations for the missing.

Minister Chaudhary clarified that Nepal alone cannot handle the irreparable economic and non-economic damages in Rasuwa, and as co-chair of COP-31, she requested Australia to facilitate the flow of grant-based adaptation finance. She also drew attention to the letter sent by Nepal to the Loss and Damage Fund Steering Committee, urging them to take it seriously and provide financial assistance from the fund promptly.

Furthermore, she highlighted the importance of continuing annual dialogue on the Himalayas and climate change and requested Australia’s special attention to this. Earlier, Minister Chaudhary had a special bilateral meeting with LDC Group Chair Adao Soares.

On the occasion, she requested the formal request by the Nepal government to receive immediate support from the ‘Loss and Damage Fund’ be advanced by the LDC Group as a shared agenda.

RSS